Aeroplane.



Af ROMUALDI.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, I9I6. Lym Patented Sept, 10,1918.

A. ROMUALDI.

AEHOPLANE.

APPLICATlON FILED JAN. 4. '1916.

1,278,35@ Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W/TNESSES M/l/E/V T01? Arnoldo Romuald ramena ernten.

ARNALDO ROMUALD, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 ROMUALDIMACHINERY & CONSTRUCTION CO., OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

.AEBOPLANE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. itt), 1918..

Application filed January 4, 1916. Serial No. 70,294.

van aeroplane which derives sustentation from the combined pressures ofthe fluid it moves through, and. by mechanical or other activityl of thesurfaces presented to the fluid.

The objects are:

To obtain lifting power in excess of'that due t0 the velocity of theiiuid.

To obtain inherent lateral stability.

To obtain variable lifting power.

To obtain lifting efficiency independent of the propelling apparatus.

To enable a fiying machine to leavethe ground after a short run, and togradually land with propelling mechamsm shut down.

To utilize the definite wave established by an advanced lifting unit, ofapplying in a short distance longitudinally by successive unitsconforming to said wave for incidentall increasing longitudinalstability.

To o tain for aeroplanes greater speed.

Drawings.

Figure 1 is a top (planview of an aeroplane constructed an arranged 1naccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on an enlarged scale, the section being takenas on the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Figs. 3 and 4 uniform with Fig. 2, forms of construction;

Fig. 5 is a diagram exemplifying the conditionsjwhich the hereindescribed application lof energy is intended to modify with levitatineffect;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view on enlarged scale of a fragment of anaeroplane having levitatin means constructed and arranged in accor ancewith a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line are cross sections of s caleshowing modified Dscription.

All 'throughout this paper the word sur# face is used to indicate thecontact face of a body with the surrounding field and never in the senseof an aerial plane or other similiar body of very small thicknessrelatively to its other dimensions as customary in aeronauticalliterature.

I consider three types of lifting `units hereinafter called elements allfounded on the same general principle and with a similar disposition ofparts. The first is where the energy directly applied on the fluid ismechanical, the second is where mechanical and thermic or other form ofradiant energy is applied simultaneously, and the third is where onlysuch radiant energy is applied to the active surfaces.

The lifting unit ywhich forms the fundamental part of this invention, iscomposed of a longitudinal frame carrying two fixed or revoluble memberscalled hereafter radiators, with axes parallel or at an angle with oneanother, the space between them being bridged to present upper and lowersurfaces, for maintaining the difference in vressure resulting betweenthe upper and -ower streams into which the surrounding fluid is divided.

The lower surface extends between the two radiators from points in eachtaken on the sides facing each other at about thirty degrees below thegeometrical plane containing the axes. It is generally curved away' fromthe geometrical plane of the axes of the radiators, to guidegthe flowfrom the front to the rear radiator with minimum leakage around therevolving surfaces. The upper surface may extend from correspondingpoints in each radiator above the geometrical plane of their axesgenerall in a curved surface concave above as in ig. 2, or in a concaveor convex form extending between points at thirty degrees or more abovesaid plane on the sides of the radiators facing each other. In Fig. 4 ofthe drawings is shown a preferred form of this construction.

A preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is shown inFigs. 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein rotary cylinders ishing the speedratios of the wheels 20 at The axes 17 are each provided, at the inner'end, with a suitable sprocket wheel for engagement by a sprocket chain18. `The chains 18 also engage sprocket wheels on a short intermediatedriven shaft 19.

lThe shafts 19, as seen best in Fig. 1 of the drawings, have each afriction wheel 20, disposed at opposite sidesl of the driving shaft21,a-nd a driving. disk 22 'on shaft.-

21 driven by the aeroplane motor 23 is furnished and on which apropeller 24 of conventional form is mounted. 'll`he friction wheels 20are slidably mounted on their respective shafts 19, and are permanentlydisposed on a shifting plate 25, the movement of which is controlled bya foot-operated lever 26 adjacent the aviators seat 27.

From the foregoing kit willv be seen that when the aviator desires, hemay, by moving the lever 26, shift the wheels 20 in opposite directionsrelative to the center of the disk 22, thereby 'relatively increasingor' diminopposite sides of the disk 22. The change in speed ratioreferred to correspondingly increases or diminishes, as the case maybe,-

the rotary speed imparted to the cylinders 9 and 10, at opposite sidesof' the longitiidinal axis of the aeroplane and thereby prol l lvidesfor thevnecessary differentiation in levitation of the carrying membersat opposite sides of the aeroplane to cant or tilt the same, as inbanking, to alter the horizontal flight of the machine-with or withoutthe help of a steering rudder. The cylinders rotate "at equal speeds dueto the connection vby means of the'chains 18.

The direction of rotation is the saine for both the cylinder or theradiators. For sustentationthc rotation is from vbelow toward the frontand then upward to the rear, as shown in Fig. 2. Reversing the-directionof rotation may be resorted to for maneuvering, banking on a curve,or'for rapid depression. The speed of rotation is controlled by thepilot for varying the degree of sustentation, gaining or losingelevation according to the requirements of travel.

The cylinders may be shaped to any crosssection for best' efficiency,and their outer surfaces may be smooth or grooved longitudinally,transversely or helicoidavlly. Also, they may have a fluted surface,projections or blades, straight or curved, to better conform with theflow around said cylinder, or to avoid leakage of fluid between thefixed and the revolving surfaces. They may be cylindrical or yconical orbuilt up of cylinders twisted together inthe same relative position asthe out-er strands of a rope. Mocicatz'on.

A modified method for producing a radiating eld around the cylindersorradiators is' to supply heat or any suitable form of radiant energy tothe surfaces as fast as they radiate it into the enveloping medium. Tothat effect I provide, in Fig. 1, for the introduction of a heatedmedium, such as the exhaust from motor 23, with or without addition ofair, into or through vthe radiators 9 and 10, constructed of thin metalto allow rapid conduction of heat through the radiators walls.

In the field .of radiant energy thus obtained, the cylinder surface isagain an equipotential surface where the addition of the effect of'itsvelocities with those of a parallel flow of the enveloping medium willtake place along stream-lines as stated. Also in the case ofmechanically driven radiators, those portions of their surfaces immersedin the upper stream around an element are continuously cooled by thegreatly increased radiation from those surfaces, while the portions incontact with the lower stream are correspondingly heated from theincreased pressure, the variation in heat energy at any instant on thoseportions of a cylinders or radiators surface represents thethermodynamical reactions from which the lifting effect results.

.en internal flow, therefore, taking the place in ever way of mechanicaldrive of the radiator 1n an element, eventually adding lifting effectfrom its heat energy, I dispose (Fig. 6), a distributing box 100inserted in the duct from the exhaust of the motor 23 to the radiators 9and 10. This distributing box branches off in two separate pipes 101 and102, through a differential valvel 103, controlling the relative flow toeither pipe which feeds into both radiators onone side ofthe-longitudinal frameof the aeroplane. Whenever thepilet wishes toalter the lateral balancel or steer the aeroplane, he can by thisarrangement, vary vthe internal flow on the radiators of each element bymoving valve 103 over the side which he intends to depress. In thedistributing box a cut-out valve 107 may be added, so that the pilot mayallow some or all of the heated gases to escape to the atmosphere whenrequired and thereby reduce the amount of heat applied and reduce theelevation. y

lt is clear from vthe foregoing that the pilot on the aeroplane may openthe cut-out valve, deriving siistentation on mechanical drive of theradiators, that is, with elements Lampes of the first type; or maydirect the exhaust gases in the radiators to take care of part of thedrive, and derive further sustentation therefrom, thus obtainingelements of the second type. He may control the lateral balance andsteer by modifying either the mechanical drive or the internal dow, orboth; by disconnecting-the mechanical drive he might obtain bothrotation of the radiators and direct sustaining power from the internalfiow, and, iinaliy, if the radiators were fastened to the frame, getsustentation directly from the internal flow.

I provide a variation of profile such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, wherethe fixed radiators 28 and 29 in the shape of ducts of convenient shapeand cross section as stated for revoluble radiators, are fastened to theplates 13 and 14, with the rivets 30, through an interposed thickness109 of other heat-insulatin material.

In al elements supplied with heat, the upper cover plate 13 in Fig. 3,and the late 31 in Fig. 4, havel an inner lining of geatinsulatingmaterial to prevent them from receiving heat from the radiators and thelower surface.

medium for varying in advance of said body, the pressure of saidenveloping medium in lines perpendicular to the plane of.

flight of said body, said means embodying a cylindrical moving surfacedisposed as a lfront surface of said body to divide said medium; and aprime mover carried by said body operatively connected with saidcylindrical surface for moving'the same so that the lower sector thereofis driven in a direction corresponding with the flight of said bod 2y Alevitation means carried by a body moving in an enveloping .supportingmedium for varying in advance of said body, the pressure of Saidenveloping medium in lines perpendicular to the planeof Hight of saidbody, said means embodying a cylindrical moving surface disposed as afront surface of said body to'divide said medium; and means. carried bysaid body .for radiating energy in the molecules of said mediumjuxtaposed to said surface.

3. .A levitation means embodying two hollow cylinders; a connectivecontinuous surface structure uniting in service relation said cylinders,said structure being shaped in correspondence with the pressures on saidstructure of the mediumin which said structure is poised; means fortransmitting to the surrounding medium energy acting perpendicular tothe plane of the axes of said cylinders; and means for moving saidcylinders through said medium.

4f. A levitation means embodying two hollow cylinders; a connectivecontinuous surface structure uniting in service relation said cylinders,said structure being shaped in correspondence with the pressures on saidstructure of the medium in which said structure is poised; means fortransmitting to the surrounding medium in advance of said cylinders, anenergy acting perpendicular to the plane of the aXes'of said cylinders;and means embodying a propulsion apparatus for moving said cylindersthrough said medium.

' A5. A levitation means embodying two hollow cylinders; a connectivecontinuous surface structure uniting in service relation said cylinders,said structure being shaped in correspondence with the pressures on saidstructure of the medium in which said structure is poised; a propellingmechanism for movingsaid cylinder through said medium, said mechanismembodying a prime mover and a propeller operatively connected therewith;and a transmission means operatively connecting said cylinders and saidprime mover for imparting to said cylinders an axially rotary movement,the lower sectors of said cylinders being moved in a directioncorresponding with the line of flight.

6. A levitation means embodying a plurality of hollow cylinders; aconnective continuous surface structure uniting in service relation saidcylinders, said structure being shaped in correspondence with thepressures on said structure of the medium in which said structure ispoised; a propelling mechanism for moving said cylinders through saidmedium, saidv mechanism embodying a prime mover and a propelleroperatively connected therewith; a transmission means operativelyconnecting said cylinders and said prime mover4 for imparting to saidcylinders an axially rotary-movement, the lower sections of saidcylinders being moved in a direction corresponding with the line ofHight; and means manually controlled for varying the rate of rotation ofsaid cylinders for varying the levitation thereof.

Signed at Jersey City in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersevthis 13th day of October A. D. 1915.

ARNALDO RGMUALDI.

Witnesses:

PIERO STEFANO 'PAGANINL DOMENICO Parana.

